fb pixel
Newsletter

Bike/Walk Central Florida Newsletter #23 — May 12, 2011

Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.
Bike/Walk Central Florida

Bicycle Flash Mob/Mayor’s Bike to Work Day

The video of the Mayor’s Bike To Work Day, led by Orlando’s Buddy Dyer from Infusion Tea in College Park, through downtown, to City Hall, is getting lots of hits on You Tube.  At the sound of the air horn, see Bike Walk Central Florida’s Bicycle Flash Mob join the fun.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDma_nnJxFk&feature=player_embedded   If you like what you see, please like and share the flash mob on Facebook, You Tube, etc. and send it out to your email lists.  The more hits the video receives, the more folks will get up off the couch and onto their bikes!

Ride with that OTHER Cool Mayor Tomorrow Morning.

Join Oviedo Mayor Dominic Persampiere on Friday, May 13, in support of Oviedo’s first-ever healthy and inspiring event:  Bike to Work with the Mayor!  Stop by the Oviedo Aquatic Center at 148 Oviedo Blvd. at 8:00 a.m. for free beverages and fruit. Says the organizers, “Are you new to cycling? This short route with the Mayor to City Hall is just for you! We encourage everyone to dust off their bikes for a morning of fun, fitness and transportation! For the more experienced riders, this short course can start your ride or finish it, stop by and ride with us.  Meet at 8:00 a.m. – Oviedo Aquatic Center – 148 Oviedo Blvd.  Ride at 8:30 a.m. with the Mayor to City Hall – 400 Alexandria Blvd.  Send an email to [email protected] to RSVP.

UCF Police Rescind Tickets

Bike/Walk Central Florida is pleased to announce a positive outcome in the case of two local cyclists ticketed for riding two abreast on University Blvd. Thanks to Sgt. Troy Williamson, of the UCF PD for being open-minded enough to reconsider the tickets, once presented with the facts. BWCF made the case on behalf of the cyclists, who operate a twice-weekly “Bike Bus” on a regular route between downtown Orlando and the university. One thing that worked in our favor: The cyclists regularly run rear-facing POV video, which was helpful in making the case that traffic was not being impeded, as implied by the tickets. Bike/Walk Central Florida encourages cyclists to avoid confrontation with law enforcement on the street. Instead, please get the officer’s name and badge number (ask for a business card), and forward to us along with the particulars of the case. We are working on your behalf to improve relations with law enforcement, and would welcome the opportunity to help.

Rest in Peace, John Bartlett

Long time Florida Freewheeler John Bartlett passed away last Thursday.  In his many years of riding with the club, John gained a reputation as an enthusiastic cyclist and a steady rider that many club members loved to draft.  He served on the club Board of Directors as Touring Director in the late 1980s and volunteered for most of the Florida Bicycle Safari and Horrible Hundred rides of the last 25 years.  In 2005, John was honored as the first recipient of the Florida Freewheelers Spirit Award as an inspirational leader of the club. The Freewheelers will hold a 25-mile ride to celebrate John’s life this Saturday, May 14th, at 9 a.m. leaving from Ed Stone Park near Deland.  Please visit the ride schedule on the web site for directions and a Google map to the start.  http://www.floridafreewheelers.com/rides.php

Walk for a Good Cause

“Let’s Move Together!”  Let’s walk to help raise funds for a cure for Arthritis.  Click here to donate at Mary Chiozza’s fundraising page, and click here to learn more about the Orlando walk at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 14th at Lake Eola. 

Ice Cream Ride

Imagine a leisurely ride through Downtown Orlando, with frozen treats at the end.  Yum!  Saturday, May 14th from 7 – 9 p.m.  Starts and ends at the Cady Way Trailhead at Fashion Square Mall. Be sure your bike has front and rear lights as it will be dark for the ride back. Helmets are highly recommended and required for those under 16 years old.

Ride of Silence

The East Side Cycling Club will host the local observation of the national Ride of Silence (www.rideofsilence.org) to remember riders killed or injured while cycling.  Mark your calendar for Wednesday, May 18th, for departure at 6:00 p.m. from the Avalon Park YMCA.  This is a somber event, but one you won’t soon forget.

RAAM!

Steven Perezluha recently qualified for the Race Across America (RAAM), a 3,000-mile coast-to-coast bicycle race from California to Maryland that starts June 15, 2011, and he’s under the age of 23!  It takes money to assemble the vehicles, drivers and other support to mount a RAAM campaign.  Make a commitment now to help by attending Steven’s fundraising banquet on Thursday, May 19, at the Renaissance Building (1110 W. Ivanhoe, Orlando 32804) — tickets are $30 and are on sale at RetroCity Cycles and Greenway Bicycles.  Everyone gets a raffle ticket for prizes such as airline tickets and bicycle parts and accessories!  For more info, and to support Steven, visit http://stevenperezluha.com. 

Women-Only Clinics to Learn More about Your Bike

Lyndy Moore announces that BikeWorks will host two (2) clinics for women only.  On Thursday, May 19, and on Thursday, May 26, both starting at 7:15 p.m., learn more about your bicycle!  These classes will cover how to change a flat, how to lube a chain, how to recover from a broken chain and more!  The classes are free and the shop is located at 2445 South Hiawassee Road in MetroWest – 407 297 1550http://bikeworks.com/

Cycling Savvy – Train Your Bike

Saturday, May 21st.  Noon – 3 p.m. at 649 West Livingston Street, Orlando, FL .

Class is held in the south parking lot of the old Amway Arena adjacent to Livingston. Park at the rec center.

The class will be held again on June 4th from 8 – 11 a.m.

For more information, including dates and times of future classes, or to sign up, go to:  http://www.cyclingsavvy.com/.

UCF Bike Bus Geocaching

Join Commute Orlando, Bike/Walk Central Florida and the UCF Bike Bus for a ride to UCF via the Bike Bus Route. The fun begins at 8 a.m. on Sunday, May 22nd, at the Cady Way Trailhead at Fashion Square Mall. We’ll follow our normal 11 mile route through the Cady Way Trail and University Blvd., and you’ll be able to hop on the bus anywhere along the way depending on where you live or how far you want to ride. Once we arrive at UCF, we will park and lock our bikes, then go geocaching in the UCF Arboretum.  Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online.  We’ll have a few GPS devices you can borrow, or you can download the geocaching app for your mobile device. Visit http://www.geocaching.com/ for more details on geocaching. For more info on this event, go to: http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2011/05/03/geocaching-ucf-bike-bus/.

Robbie Ventura & David’s World Cycle hold Grand Opening of Vision Quest Training Studio

Dave Reilly at Davids World Cycle reports that its new exercise facility in its College Park location is ready for action!  Dave says, Join Tour de France personality Robbie Ventura and David’s World Cycle for the Vision Quest Training Studio Grand Opening Celebration on Wednesday, May 25th from 6-7:30pm. The College Park location is at 2517 Edgewater Drive, Orlando 32804, 407-422-2458. Robbie will speak about the importance of training with power, Vision Quest Coaching, and the Tour de France. http://davidsworld.com/about/college-park-vision-quest-grand-opening-with-robbie-ventura-pg779.htm

Recurring Rides 

First Fridays: Take it to the streets bike ride to promote civility: 6 p.m. on the First Friday of each month. Check our Facebook Fan page for start locations.

UCF Bike Bus: Downtown Orlando to UCF, then UCF to Downtown Orlando. Follow bike bus in real time via GPS at http://commuteorlando.com/bikebus/

Ride With Steve: Beginner ride. Meet at Winter Garden Wheel Works in Downtown Winter Garden, 8 a.m., Saturdays. – Sponsored by Winter Garden Wheel Works  .

Pancake Rides: St. Johns Cycles has re-started its Pancake Rides. You start from the shop at 1732 Rinehart Road in Sanford at 8:00 a.m. for the 60-mile option or from Valentine Park in Orange City for the 30-mile option and pedal to DeLeon Springs State Park to enjoy breakfast at the Old Sugarmill Restaurant – this is the place where hot griddles sit in the middle of the tables – you’re brought a pitcher of pancake batter and you make your own.  You need to RSVP to [email protected].  Call 407-323-1550 for more information!

See our Calendar for other family rides:

www.bikewalkcentralflorida.org

S-Cargo farmers market rides featuring utility bikes and trailers

Ice Cream Socials: night rides through Downtown Orlando

Unless specifically designated as a trail ride, our rides take place on public streets. Headlights and red rear flashers are required for night rides. Helmets are encouraged, and are required for children under 16.

We observe all traffic laws and traffic signals.

Our rides are typically 10 to 15 miles, roundtrip, and average 10 miles an hour, a comfortable pace for most adults and teens. May be too fast for younger children and adults with health issues.

These rides are social in nature.

For longer, more aggressive group rides, subscribe to Hal Downing’s group ride newsletter by emailing [email protected] .

If you prefer a slow ride bike group, try the Backpack Bikers, on Saturdays at 11 am outside by the bike rack at the 24-hour fitness club by Super Target near the corner of Orange Avenue and Michgan Street in the Crystal Lake Subdivision.  Contact Cynthia Morrison at [email protected] .

If you have a social ride you would like us to help promote, please email me at the address below.

Brad

Brad Kuhn

Executive Director

[email protected]